Izaak Walton Quotes & Sayings

And though it is most certain, that two lutes being both strung and turned to an equal pitch, and then one played upon, the other will warble a faint audible harmony in answer to the same tune: yet many will not believe there is any such thing as sympathy of souls, and I am well pleased that every reader do enjoy his own opinion. — Izaak Walton

Health is ... a blessing that money cannot buy. — Izaak Walton

God has two dwellings; one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart. — Izaak Walton

So long as thou are ignorant be not ashamed to learn. Ignorance is the greatest of all infirmities, and when justified, the chiefest of all follies. — Izaak Walton

You will find angling to be like the virtue of humanity, which has a calmness of spirit and a world of blessing attending upon it. — Izaak Walton

If all the theories were correct, there wouldn't be a fish left in all of our lakes and rivers and streams. — Izaak Walton

He directed that the stone over his grave be inscribed: Hic jacet hujus sententiae primus auctor: DISPUTANDI PRURITUS ECCLESIARUM SCABIES. — Izaak Walton

The Waters are Nature's storehouse in which she locks up her wonders.. — Izaak Walton

Let us not repine, or so much as think the gifts of God unequally dealt, if we see another abound with riches, when, as God knows, the cares that are the keys that keep those riches hang often so heavily at the rich man's girdle that they dog him with weary days and restless nights, even when others sleep quietly. — Izaak Walton

But God, who is ableto prevail, wrestled with him, as the Angel did with Jacob, and marked him; marked him for his own. — Izaak Walton

I have then with pleasure concluded with Solomon, Everything is beautiful in his season. — Izaak Walton

Good company and good discourse are the very sinews of virtue. — Izaak Walton

It is agreed by most men, that the Eele is a most daintie fish; the Romans have esteemed her the Helena of their feasts, and some The Queen of pleasure. — Izaak Walton

Lord, what music hast thou provided for Thy saints in heaven, when Thou affordest bad men such music on earth! — Izaak Walton

No life is so happy and so pleasant as the life of the well-govern'd angler. — Izaak Walton

There are offences given and offences not given but taken. — Izaak Walton

[Be grateful for the simple things in life. Don't take them for granted. After all ... ] What would a blind man give to see the pleasant rivers and meadows and flowers and fountains; and this and many other like blessings we enjoy daily. — Izaak Walton

Words are men's daughters, but God's sons are things. — Izaak Walton

It was wisely said, by a man of great observation, that there are as many miseries beyond riches as on this side of them. — Izaak Walton

Affliction is a divine diet which though it be not pleasing to mankind, yet almighty God hath often imposed it as a good, thought bitter, physic, to those children whose souls are dearest to him. — Izaak Walton

And for winter fly-fishing it is as useful as an almanac out of date. — Izaak Walton

I love such mirth as does not make friends ashamed to look upon one another next morning. — Izaak Walton

I love any discourse of rivers, and fish and fishing. — Izaak Walton

[T]is not all fishing to fish. — Izaak Walton

I am, Sir, a brother of the angle. — Izaak Walton

No man can lose what he never had. — Izaak Walton

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

Doubt not but angling will prove to be so pleasant that it will prove to be, like virtue, a reward to itself. — Izaak Walton

Angling is an Art ... an art worth your learning. — Izaak Walton

I have laid aside business, and gone a'fishing. — Izaak Walton

That which is everybody's business is nobody's business. — Izaak Walton

These poor rich men, we anglers pity them perfectly. — Izaak Walton

It [angling] deserves commendations; ... it is an art worthy the knowledge and practice of a wise man. — Izaak Walton

In so doing, use him as though you loved him. — Izaak Walton

An excellent angler, and now with God. — Izaak Walton

Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience. — Izaak Walton

Doubtless God Could Have Made A Better Berry, But Doubtless God Never Did — Izaak Walton

Blessings we enjoy daily, and for most of them, because they be so common, we forget to pay our praises. But let not us, because it is a sacrifice so pleasing to Him who still protects us, and gives us flowers and showers and meat and content. — Izaak Walton

We see but the outside of a rich man's happiness; few consider him to be like the silkworm, that, when she seems to play, is at the very same time consuming herself. — Izaak Walton

Angling is somewhat like poetry, men are to be born so ... — Izaak Walton

Of this blest man, let his just praise be given,
Heaven was in him, before he was in Heaven. — Izaak Walton

Blessings we enjoy daily, and for the most of them, because they be so common, men forget to pay their praises. [and miss much of their benefits from grateful appreciation] — Izaak Walton

Oh, the gallant fisher's life!It is the best of any;'T is full of pleasure, void of strife,And 't is beloved by many. — Izaak Walton

Blessings upon all that hate contention, and love quietnesse, and vertue, and Angling. — Izaak Walton

O, sir, doubt not that Angling is an art; is it not an art to deceive a trout with an artificial fly? — Izaak Walton

This dish of meat is too good for any but anglers, or very honest men. — Izaak Walton

Angling may be said to be so like the mathematics that it can never be fully learned. — Izaak Walton

Look to your health; and if you have it, praise God and value it next to conscience; for health is the second blessing that we mortals are capable of, a blessing money can't buy. — Izaak Walton

He that loses his conscience has nothing left that is worth keeping. Therefore be sure you look to that, and in the next place look to your health; and if you have it, praise God and value it next to a good conscience. — Izaak Walton

Old-fashioned poetry, but choicely good. — Izaak Walton

Rivers and the inhabitants of the watery elements are made for wise men to contemplate and for fools to pass by without consideration. — Izaak Walton

For love is a flattering mischief, that hath denied aged and wise men a foresight of those evils that too often prove to be the children of that blind father; a passion, that carries us to commit errors with as much ease as whirlwinds move feathers, and begets in us an unwearied industry to the attainment of what we desire. — Izaak Walton

God never did make a more calm, quiet, innocent recreation than angling. — Izaak Walton

Those little nimble musicians of the air, that warble forth their curious ditties, with which nature hath furnished them to the shame of art. — Izaak Walton

I have known a very good, fisher angle diligently four or six hours for a river carp, and not have a bite. — Izaak Walton

The person that loses their conscience has nothing left worth keeping. — Izaak Walton

As no man is born an artist, so no man is born an angler. — Izaak Walton

Let me tell you that every misery I miss is a new blessing. — Izaak Walton

Angling may be saidtobe so likemathematics, that itcan never be fully learnt. — Izaak Walton